Hospital Leadership

Kimberly D. Russo

Chief Executive Officer – GW Hospital
Group Vice President – Washington, DC Region

Kimberly D. Russo, MBA, MS, was named Group Vice President of Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS), one of the nation's largest healthcare management companies, in April 2021. Under her leadership, she established a partnership with the Government of the District of Columbia to open the first new hospital in DC in more than two decades. The new hospital will bring vital healthcare services to an underserved region.

In addition to this role, Ms. Russo has been CEO of GW Hospital, an academic medical center in Washington, DC since 2016. Prior to becoming CEO, Ms. Russo served as Chief Operating Officer, as well as in numerous other management roles at GW Hospital. Under her leadership, GW Hospital has significantly advanced its programs and services to elevate its lifesaving critical care and expand access to care for the region. In addition, Ms. Russo has been pivotal in the development and management of the organization’s accountable care network – GW Health Network.

With more than 20 years of clinical and operational healthcare experience, Ms. Russo has received numerous accolades for her impact on healthcare in the Washington, DC community. Most recently she received the American Hospital Association (AHA) Grassroots Advocacy Champion in 2022, she was named in the 100 Academic Medical Center CEO’s to Know by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2020, and she was named one of Washingtonian Magazine’s Most Powerful Women in 2019. In addition, she was recognized as one of The Washington Business Journal's 2016 "Playmakers” Power 100 as a business leader who made an impact on the DC area in 2016. Furthermore, in 2010, she was also an honoree of The Washington Business Journal’s "Women Who Mean Business" and “Up and Comer Under 40” honoree by Modern Healthcare and Becker's Hospital Review.

Ms. Russo has held a number of positions in which she worked to advance healthcare throughout the DC region, including:

• Voting Member, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Commission on Healthcare Systems Transformation (2019)
• Past President of the Board of Directors, District of Columbia Hospital Association
• Recent Chair of the Nominating Committee, District of Columbia Hospital Association
• Board Member, Vice Chair, Healthcare Council National Capital Area
• Current Chair of the Board of Trustees, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Capital Area, Chair and outgoing Vice Chair
• Member, Women’s Healthcare Executive Roundtable
• Board Member, AHA Regional Policy Board 3
• Board Member, The Economic Club of Washington
• Board Member, GW Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center
• Board Member, GW Heart and Vascular Institute
• Leadership of Greater Washington (LGW), Class of 2022

She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2009), a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Rush University in Chicago (1996), and a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Illinois State University (1993). Ms. Russo and her husband Tony are parents to two children, Gabrielle and Marty, and three labradoodles.

Bruno Petinaux

Chief Medical Officer

Bruno Petinaux, MD, was appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the George Washington University Hospital in June 2017. Prior to his official appointment, he served as Interim CMO for a year, during which he led the development and execution of many safety and quality initiatives.

In addition to his role as CMO, Dr. Petinaux is an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and has been an emergency medicine physician at GW Hospital since 2002. He co-chairs GW Hospital’s Emergency Management Program and is the Emergency Management Track Director for the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Along with his work at GW, Dr. Petinaux supports our community as a medical team manager for the Virginia Task Force 1/USA 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team.

Dr. Petinaux completed his emergency medicine residency at GW Hospital where he finished as chief resident. Along with his medical degree from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College from the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Dr. Petinaux has a military background with the United States Army Reserve.

Scott Croonquist

Chief Nursing Officer

Scott Croonquist, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, joined the George Washington University Hospital as Chief Nursing Officer in January 2020.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Croonquist was the Magnet Recognition Program Appraiser for the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Washington, DC; Associate Chief Nursing Officer and Administrator of Adult Patient Care Services for the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Virginia.; Director of Patient Care Services/Cardiac Service, Critical Care Nursing for New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York; and Administrative Director of Nursing for Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Dr. Croonquist earned his Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from the American Sentinel University in Aurora, Colorado, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing Administration/Case Management from Saint Peter’s College in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ramapo College/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Hazel Darisse

Assistant Chief Nursing Officer

Hazel Darisse was appointed Assistant Chief Nursing Officer at the George Washington University Hospital in May 2018.

Dr. Darisse has been in nursing at GW Hospital since 1990 and spent almost 10 years as Divisional Director of Surgical Services. Prior to that position, she performed a number of nursing roles including time as Operating Room Manager and Cardiac Surgery Coordinator.

With decades of nursing experience at GW, Dr. Darisse has been integral to a number of initiatives. As part of the OR leadership team, she helped launch the Thoracic Robotic program in 2004. In addition, she worked with the GWU School of Nursing to develop the Perioperative 101 curriculum to increase recruitment and interest in this field of nursing that has the highest shortage nationwide.

Dr. Darisse holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice and a Master of Science in Nursing from The George Washington University. She received her undergraduate nursing degree from Marymount University. She is a Nursing Honors Society member of Sigma Theta Tau International and was a founding member of the Phi Epsilon chapter.

Ulises Torres

Chief Quality Officer

Ulises Torres, MD, MEHP, FACS was appointed Chief Quality Officer at The George Washington University Hospital in September 2021. Prior to joining GW Hospital, Dr. Torres served as the Surgical Chief Quality Officer at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center. While there, he held numerous other leadership positions including: Attending Surgeon in the Department of Surgery; Director of Trauma Education and Outreach; Associate Program Director for General Surgery Residency; Chair of Communication for the Physician Engagement Committee; and Engagement Physician Champion for the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Torres has many awards and honors and is a member of several professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons. In addition, Dr. Torres has been involved in several quality improvement projects and has presented his clinical work nationally. He holds a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras, board certifications in general surgery and surgical critical care, as well as a Master of Education in the Health Professionals from Johns Hopkins University.

Alexis Reinke

Associate Administrator

Alexis Reinke joined the GW Hospital team as Associate Administrator in 2023. In this role, Ms. Reinke provides day-to-day operations for different hospital departments to maximize the quality of our services, implementing the strategy and initiatives of our senior leadership to ensure the hospital runs efficiently and that we provide the highest level of care to our patients. 

Prior to starting her position here at GW Hospital, Ms. Reinke was a Department Administrator for Orthopedic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic where she led 80 providers in five hospitals and 18 family health centers and was responsible for the operations, financial and strategic management of the East region and the Sports Medicine Department. Previously, she served at the Cleveland Clinic as a manager in the Hospital President’s office, providing administrative oversight and support to ensure the clinical and operational success for 11 regional hospitals and 28 family health centers. 

Ms. Reinke earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Lehigh University and her Master of Health Administration from The George Washington University. She graduated with high honors from both institutions and was a member of both universities’ Division 1 basketball teams.